"Shocking experience at Royal vaccination centre"

I booked online for both my flu & covid vaccines (category carer) with ease & as instructed online I brought photographic ID. 

However, as I was about to have my vaccines administered the nurse proceeded to question why I hadn’t any evidence to prove that I was a carer. I said that I had previously been given the vaccinations at the Ulster Hospital as a carer without evidence. I explained as an unsalaried carer I would have no evidence. Apparently my relative I care for would receive a letter from her GP stating her condition & that I could bring this letter. I replied there was no letter sent out. A text had been sent. 

The conversation rapidly went downhill; they suggested that anyone could say they were a carer. I was asked what job I had. When I replied “lawyer” I was advised in that case, I should have known to bring something to prove I was a carer (!). In the end the nurse agreed to vaccinate me, but that it would be on their head. At this point I made to leave and asked to speak to a manager. 

I was directed to a senior nurse who dealt with the situation very well. They reassured me that there were flaws in the system, but encouraged me to have the vaccines. Luckily for me they agreed to administered them. 

I have no idea why the first nurse was so rude to me. Improving their website would be an obvious & fair solution rather than trying to set about blaming the person trying to be vaccinated. My GP would happily have vaccinated me but I’m unable to attend the session this coming week, as I’ll be performing my duty as a carer

I was made to feel embarrassed in front of the staff member who was logging patient info.  Why would a member of staff waste time deliberately antagonising & upsetting a patient like this? 

Like many people & families, I’ve had to perform roles without any proper training or tutelage. We’ve had to pay 5 figure sums of money privately for urgent major surgery because the estimated waiting time given was between 5-10 years. The pressure on carers has been tremendous. The very last thing anyone needs is a confrontation when they’re trying to access vaccinations. The Belfast Trust urgently needs to improve their website to reflect the strict criteria its staff are trying to implement. I will be asking for the Belfast Trust to clarify their position if a vaccinator administers a vaccine to a carer without written evidence, it is really a case that the staff member is held responsible?.